Laguna Beach Books
AUTHOR EVENT
Tuesday, May 19th 5-7pm | Forest of the Sea, David Helvarg
Kelp forests, “entrancing cathedrals of light and life”, contribute significantly to the health of our planet as well as the world economy. Alarmingly, marine heat waves threaten this incredibly biodiverse ecosystem. On May 19th we’ll welcome David Helvarg, a journalist, environmental activist, and author of Forest of the Sea. There is much to learn and much that can be done to protect these vital marine habitats, and we hope you will join us for an informative evening.
RSVP to maria@lagunabeachbooks.com
Busboys and Poets - Washington DC
Join us to learn how science, culture, and hope can converge to restore one of Earth's most vital marine habitats.
In a matter of decades, a spectacular cold-water paradise thirty million years in the making is succumbing to warming oceans. Kelp forests are largely out of sight, hidden under the ocean's surface, yet they are one of Earth's most wonderous and underappreciated marine habitats. It's an ethereal light-infused realm of sharks, otters, eels, sea stars, crabs, rockfish, and myriad other species vital to a functioning ocean and the countless coastal communities that make their living from the sea. Unlike coral reefs, whose similar plight plays out in tropical waters highly visible to vacationing tourists, kelp forests thrive along cold-water coastlines far from tourist centers. What will it take to stop the decline before these underwater playgrounds bursting with colorful life become vast fields of lifeless urchin barrens?
For readers who know kelp only as tangles on the ocean surface or smelly mounds of seaweed littering beaches, Forest of the Sea reveals a thriving three-dimensional underwater world of color and beauty whose loss if allowed to happen will reverberate in unimaginable ways for both nature and humans. David Helvarg, a veteran journalist and accomplished scuba diver, takes us on a memorable journey beneath the waves through kelp's natural and human history, the billions of dollars of products and services it contributes to our global economy, the unwitting human activities that threaten its survival, and the hopeful movements around the world to restore kelp habitat. Helvarg introduces us to Indigenous leaders promoting sea otter reintroduction, out-of-work urchin fisherman, documentary filmmakers, and ocean scientists all working in an unlikely collaboration to restore and protect kelp forests while promoting a growing range of uses for food, medicine, and energy.
Forest of the Sea is the first book to document what is at stake if we lose these irreplaceable marine jewels, helping readers to understand how these natural systems might adapt and survive.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography – LaJolla, CA
Forest of the Sea by David Helvarg - Book Talk & Signing
The Forest of the Sea – A talk on kelp, climate and the future of the Ocean by David Helvarg
Award-winning journalist, author and Executive Director of Blue Frontier David Helvarg will
discuss his newest book, ‘Forest of the Sea – the Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp.’
He’ll recount his memorable journey beneath the waves through kelp’s natural and human history, the 500 billion dollars of products and services it contributes to our global economy and the human activities that threaten its survival making it one of the major emerging ocean issues of this moment.
He’ll explain how the world is facing another forest crisis that’s gone largely unnoticed because, while they cover more space and generate more oxygen than the Amazon Rainforest, kelp forests are largely out of sight and out of mind below the cold waters of up to one third of the world’s temperate coastlines, some of which he got to dive in. He’ll address the role of sea otters, growing marine heatwaves and ‘Zombie urchins’ as well as algae labs and indigenous leadership’s role in the understanding, protection restoration and edible harvesting of this amazing macroalgae. He’ll also talk about ‘Ocean Triage’ or our need to protect what we can while we can.
Books available for purchase via UCSD Bookstore at the event.
More information here.
Patagonia Store - Santa Monica
Patagonia Santa Monica
Sunday, May 17 6:00pm
Forest of the Sea Book Talk with The Bay Foundation
Join us for an evening with author David Helvarg and The Bay Foundation CEO Tom Ford in discussion of Helvarg's book, Forest of the Sea!
For readers who know kelp only as tangles on the ocean surface or smelly mounds of seaweed
littering beaches, Forest of the Sea reveals a thriving three-dimensional underwater world of
color and beauty whose loss if allowed to happen will reverberate in unimaginable ways for both
nature and humans. Author David Helvarg, a veteran journalist and accomplished scuba diver,
takes us on a memorable journey beneath the waves through kelp’s natural and human history,
the billions of dollars of products and services it contributes to our global economy, the unwitting
human activities that threaten its survival, and the hopeful movements around the world to
restore kelp habitat.
We will have beverages available as well as a chance-to-win drawing with all proceeds going towards The Bay Foundation!
Doors open at 5:30 PM and discussion begins at 6 PM
We look forward to seeing you there!
RSVP here.
Cabrillo Aquarium
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and Friends
Saturday, May 16
3 - 5 P.M.
‘Forest of the Sea’
A talk on kelp and the future of the Ocean by David Helvarg
Book Signing to follow
Join us in the CMA Auditorium to hear award-winning journalist, author, podcaster and Executive Director of Blue Frontier David Helvarg discuss his newest book, ‘Forest of the Sea – The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp'.
He’ll recount his memorable journey beneath the waves and through kelp’s natural and human history, and the 500 billion dollars of products and services it contributes to our global economy, from snacks to cosmetics to jet fuel. Mr. Helvarg will also discuss the human activities that threaten kelp's survival, making it one of the emerging but underreported ocean and food security issues of our time.
He will explain how the world is facing another forest crisis that’s gone largely unnoticed because, while they cover more space and generate more oxygen than the Amazon Rainforest, kelp forests are largely out of sight and out of mind below the cold waters of approximately one third of the world’s coastlines, some of which he got to dive in.
He’ll address the roles of sea otters, growing marine heatwaves and ‘Zombie urchins’, cutting-edge algae labs and indigenous leadership in the understanding, protection, restoration and edible harvesting of this amazing macroalgae. He’ll also talk about ‘Ocean Triage’ or why we need to protect what we can while we can.
After Mr. Helvarg's talk, stop by the Gift Shop for a book signing. The talk and book signing are free to attend and open to the public.
Questions? Email membership@cmaqua.org
AltaSea - Port of Los Angeles
AltaSea Open House: Books, Boats, Better Future
Join us at AltaSea for our next Open House, featuring two engaging conversations with leaders shaping the future of our oceans and coastal communities.
On Saturday, May 16, explore the vital role of kelp ecosystems with David Helvarg, Executive Director of Blue Frontier and author of The Forest of the Sea, followed by a book signing. Then, hear from Hampus Idsäter of Suntex Marinas as he shares insights on the future of recreational boating in California and the evolving role of marinas in sustainable coastal development.
More information here.
Corinthian Yacht Club - Tiburon, CA
Corinthian Yacht Club of San Francisco
SPEAKER SERIES 2026
Thursday, May 14, 2026
David Helvarg, Founder, Blue Frontier
Discussing his new book Forest of the Sea
David Helvarg is Founder and Executive Director of Blue Frontier, a national ocean policy group based in Richmond. Tonight he’ll discuss his newest book, Forest of the Sea, named one of the Top 10 Science books of the spring by Publishers Weekly, it’s gotten great reviews from Ted Danson, Leon Panetta, Sylva Earle and others. He’ll discuss how kelp forests – including off California - are hugely productive ecosystems, larger than the Amazon Rainforest and equally threatened even as they provide us food security, storm protection, oxygen and more. He’ll talk of adventuring around the world to tell the story of kelp, climate and the Ocean
A prolific journalist, Helvarg has written more than 600 articles, 40 documentaries and is the author of six past books:
Blue Frontier
The War Against the Greens
50 Ways to Save the Ocean
Rescue Warriors
Saved by the Sea
The Golden Shore
Helvarg co-founded the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards, is a Sr. Fellow with the Center for the Blue Economy and Executive Producer of the new, award-winning film Sequoias of the Sea.
He’s worked as a war correspondent in Northern Ireland and Central America, covered a range of issues from military science to the AIDS epidemic, and reported from every continent including Antarctica. An award-winning producer for PBS, Marketplace and others, he is also a licensed Private Investigator, body-surfer and scuba diver.
Thanks to KKMI for their ongoing support Free & Open to the Public ** Sail Loft Bar opens at 6:30
Reservations requested: speakers@cyc.org
Corinthian Yacht Club Ballroom
43 Main Street, Tiburon
BoatWorks, Hopkins Marine Station
Join us at Hopkins Marine Station for an author event celebrating prolific author, accomplished journalist, documentary producer, and tireless ocean activist, David Helvarg, and his new book, Forest of the Sea: The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp.
A powerful call to action that shows how science, culture, and hope can converge to restore one of Earth's most vital marine habitat.
120 OceanView Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
More information here.
